[531412]

Personally, (my affiliation with iFi aside) I would choose the phone x Signature combo any day. Phones are so much more reliable and the Signature matches or beats out the sound quality of the DX300.

I'm a person that strives for practicality and flexibility when comes to driving a wide variety of headphones and IEMs, and that's why the Signature is my go-to (and I would have it even if I was not with iFi)!

Same here ... A good smartphone, compared to a good DAC/amp is so much better than a DAP with outdated hardware for 1000+ EUR. You have your smartphone with you anyway - every day, in every situation. And if you spend thousands of euros for audio equipment anyway, I am pretty sure that 95% of those people have a good smartphone anyway which does the job much better than a DAP. A DAP is just an additional device you have to charge, take with you, which needs updates and once it is "outdated", you have to sell it for a ridiculous fraction of the purchase price anyway.

I was absent for a couple of weeks ... therefore the question to you, @Sebastien Chiu and @iFi audio: do you have any information regarding the 4.4mm IEmatch?

 

[JoshG1217]

Ultimately, sound. Battery matters somewhat. I heard diablo on turbo driving he6se lasts for 30 min. Hope that's an exaggeration.

I do have the hipdac 2 on the way. Arrives Friday, which I think already sounds better than m11, so I'm hoping sig or diablo sounds amazing. Dx300 sounds good, but for the cost, it doesn't sound 3x the m11.

 

[531412]

Dx300 sounds good, but for the cost, it doesn't sound 3x the m11.

But that is normal ... the cost / sound ratio does not increase linearly.
Everyone of us need to find his/her own sweetspot

 

[JoshG1217]

But that is normal the cost / sound ratio does not increase linearly.
Everyone of us need to fine his/her own sweetspot

For sure. I'll do some more a/b. Hip dac may do it for me. If not, then sig sounds like the winner.

 

[531412]

For sure. I'll do some more a/b. Hip dac may do it for me. If not, then sig sounds like the winner.

I did a real A/B blind test few months ago and the result shocked me soooo hard! I do not want to spoiler the result, but after such test you do not see a benefit to spend so much money for a DAC or amp anymore

 

[JoshG1217]

I did a real A/B blind test few months ago and the result shocked me soooo hard! I do not want to spoiler the result, but after such test you do not see a benefit to spend so much money for a DAC or amp anymore

Well thst kinda spoils it. Haha. I just ordered the diablo, so that, hip dac, And z1r all come Friday. We shall see what the winner is

 

[iFi audio]

@Sebastien Chiu and @iFi audio: do you have any information regarding the 4.4mm IEmatch?

Nothing new since the last time it was mentioned. "We're aware that it's needed"... is the only thing @Sebastien Chiu and me have to say about it at this time, sorry!

 

[GiullianSN]

I think on a general note, ifi should give some good attention to the whole IEM market, for portable and desktop. The ifi Blue was a good one.

 

[iFi audio]

fi should give some good attention to the whole IEM market, for portable and desktop. The ifi Blue was a good one.

I think that our offer is so broad (both desktop and portable) at the moment that most IEM users would easily find a product that would fit their needs. Unless you're thinking about something specific and not present in our lineup ?

 

[GiullianSN]

I think that our offer is so broad (both desktop and portable) at the moment that most IEM users would easily find a product that would fit their needs. Unless you're thinking about something specific and not present in our lineup ?

I think I mentioned before. I few of the ifi gear I tried, by the point you pass the imbalance point of the analog volume, it is already too loud for IEM, even using iEMatch. (not only really sensitive IEMs). Other point, when mention that the "offer is broad", a hip-dac doesn't sound like a signature that doesn't sound like a diablo that doesn't sound like the pro (you get the idea). So if someone want the sound of a Diablo on an IEM will need an IEMatch plus 3.5 to 1/4 adaptor, so not ideal, even though it may still be too loud. Signature or Pro may be too loud as well.

Long story short, I would love to see a real ladder between Eco, Normal, Turbo modes as the majority of the products have this feature

Is good to have multiple products on the catalog, but maybe the best ones are leaving a big market portion out.

I may be wrong, but this is just a simple customer opinion.

 

[Johnfg465vd]

I think that our offer is so broad (both desktop and portable) at the moment that most IEM users would easily find a product that would fit their needs. Unless you're thinking about something specific and not present in our lineup ?

Hmm, there are a broad range of products yes, but I think there are some small issues when it comes to their intended use.

Like @CrocodileDundee said, the Go BLU is a solid step up. It has good features and size for it's intended use I.e to drive IEM's.

a step up would be the Hip-DAC, a portable device which is probably intended for IEM's and some easy to drive Headphones and here there are some small issues for me. I'd have liked the Hip-DAC to have bluetooth input and IEMatch in built to use with sensitive IEM's. The Hip-DAC's usable volume range get's limited with such IEM's and also I notice a slight hiss with the Hip-DAC.

next would be the micro iDSD Signature. It's advertised as a jack of all trades device to power budget to TOTL headphones & IEM's and can also be used as a replacement for budget desktop setups. The problem with that is, it lacks Pre-Amp and the ability to switch to an external power supply (for longer battery life), both of which are important features for desktop use.

When it comes to sound and build quality, I have no issues with iFi products but I think usability could be improved a bit. I'm sure you guys have put a lot of thought into designing and implementing different features to include in your products, I just wanted to share my POV after having used the Zen DAC, Zen CAN, xCAN, Hip-DAC & micro iDSD Signature.

 

[iFi audio]

I may be wrong, but this is just a simple customer opinion.

It's all good, we appreciate all feedback

I think I mentioned before. I few of the ifi gear I tried, by the point you pass the imbalance point of the analog volume, it is already too loud for IEM, even using iEMatch. (not only really sensitive IEMs). Other point, when mention that the "offer is broad", a hip-dac doesn't sound like a signature that doesn't sound like a diablo that doesn't sound like the pro (you get the idea). So if someone want the sound of a Diablo on an IEM will need an IEMatch plus 3.5 to 1/4 adaptor, so not ideal, even though it may still be too loud. Signature or Pro may be too loud as well.

Long story short, I would love to see a real ladder between Eco, Normal, Turbo modes as the majority of the products have this feature

Is good to have multiple products on the catalog, but maybe the best ones are leaving a big market portion out.

The best setup for IEMs would be xDSD and optionally xCAN if one would like even more juice.

a step up would be the Hip-DAC, a portable device which is probably intended for IEM's and some easy to drive Headphones and here there are some small issues for me. I'd have liked the Hip-DAC to have bluetooth input and IEMatch in built to use with sensitive IEM's. The Hip-DAC's usable volume range get's limited with such IEM's and also I notice a slight hiss with the Hip-DAC.

...so you're essentially asking fo xDSD

next would be the micro iDSD Signature. It's advertised as a jack of all trades device to power budget to TOTL headphones & IEM's and can also be used as a replacement for budget desktop setups. The problem with that is, it lacks Pre-Amp and the ability to switch to an external power supply (for longer battery life), both of which are important features for desktop use.

A preamp feature would be useful in case of a DAC, but not a product primarily designed as a DAC/amp combo. Also, you can charge and use micro iDSD Signature at the same time, but it has to charge more than connected cans require, otherwise its battery will get depleted at some point.

 

[Johnfg465vd]

...so you're essentially asking fo xDSD

I'm under the impression that xDSD & xCAN are discontinued, am I wrong?

Will there be a xDSD 2 with better components (newer clock system, better bluetooth codecs...) and minus the chrome finish. It would make for a killer portable product for it's size.

 

[iFi audio]

I'm under the impression that xDSD & xCAN are discontinued, am I wrong?

Will there be a xDSD 2 with better components (newer clock system, better bluetooth codecs...) and minus the chrome finish. It would make for a killer portable product for it's size.

xDSD and xCAN are still at our site, but we hear you

 

[Gww1]

xDSD and xCAN are still at our site, but we hear you

Non chrome xDSD and xCAN with 4.4mm, LDAC, and a nice volume knob would be a real winner!